Medical supplies to treat wounded soldiers in Sulu

Photo credit: ICRC

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (June 2, 2018) - The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Camp Navarro General Hospital (CNGH) in Zamboanga City received last week medical supplies to treat people wounded in the recent clashes in Sulu.

Piotr Dregiel, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office in Zamboanga, said that as part of the ICRC’s humanitarian mandate to help people affected by armed conflicts, it provided intravenous fluids and wound-care materials to the military hospital, which serves as the main operating base for southwest Philippines. The medical supplies can cover the needs of 20-30 wounded people.

Lt. Col. Maria Victoria Mandin, commanding officer of the CNGH, expressed appreciation for the donation and the continuing support of the ICRC. “Their medical donations since 2016 have supplemented the supplies and medicines of the hospital which at times can become low due to increased patient needs especially during the height of military operations.”

The ICRC regularly supports five hospitals in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao through quarterly donations of medicines, vaccines and medical supplies. It also provides ad hoc assistance to hospitals during crises situations. In April, the ICRC donated medical items and jerrycans to the Integrated Provincial Hospital Office (IPHO) - Sulu Provincial Hospital in response to the diarrhea outbreak in Pata Island.

The ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance, regardless of their political affiliation. It has an international mandate to promote knowledge for and respect of international humanitarian law. (By Allison Lopez)